Can you sometimes imagine yourself as a tourist in such a splendid city of Berlin and its environs with such an exciting air of history? Oh then, perhaps, a free walking tour in Berlin might just be the perfect sandwich for your day. This blog post is devoted to the world of free walking tours in Berlin: the advantages, tricks, and what to expect from a free-walking-tour experience.
What are Free Walking Tours?
Free walking tours are basically city tours whereby a tourist is provided with a guide who is either a local or experienced person who has undertaken to provide the service in the city as a hobby. Free walking tours do not have a set price like most guided tours available on the market. However, at the end of the tour, the participants are free to reward the guide based on his performance and /or their capacity to pay.
Basically, Walking Tours free of charge.
- Cost-effective: The tours are known as free, which means that there is no base price customers need to pay for the service.
- Immersive experience: Taking a free walking tour is also a good way to get to know a city from a different perspective, seeing the tourist attractions that are not mentioned in guidebooks.
- Flexible schedule: Most of the free walking tours are available in several times within a single day in order for the hopeful tourists to select one tour that most appropriately suits his time.
- Interactive: Another benefit is that free walking tours are more engaging than other tours because you’re encouraged to ask questions and even get the guide and other participants involved.
Hiking Offers Free Tours of Berlin
A free walking tour in Berlin means that you will go an amazing journey through the sights and secret gems of the city. Here are some highlights and tips to help you make the most of your experience:
Duration and Route
I also found out that majority of the free walking tours in the Berlin would take approximately 2-3 hours. Most of the tourist’s attractions, which are included in the route are Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Holocaust Memorial and Cemetery, Checkpoint Charlie, and Museum Island. Yet, one or another tour may visit different places, so one should better clarify the details.
Local Guides
Free walking tours remain popular due to the ability to be accompanied by or led by local guides or people who have lived in the city for many years. Come willingly and listen to what is being said without hesitation to ask questions.
Tipping Etiquette
The tours are free but it is still appropriate to offer your guide some amount of money as way of thanking them for the service. The amount of tip a client wants to give depends on his or her pockets and level of satisfaction of a specific tour. People recommend giving about 10-15 euros per person, but you are free to decide anything you want.
Group Size
Flexible or free walking tours are well appreciated by tourists especially during the busy calendar seasons. Be prepared to participate an international group of tourists. I know they are still classmates but if that will not be a problem then do not be shy and start to make new friends!
How to select the best Free Walking Tour
This is because there are so many companies that offer the service for free in Berlin and it is not easy to choose which one is the right one. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Compare various tour companies are available and read the experiences of people who have participated in the activity before.
- The other thing to check is the departure time, region or area to make sure it is well convenient for you.
- One might want to look at use of thematic tours in line with certain specialty, for instance arts, history or architecture.
- It is recommended to work with a group tour because different tourists can be taken in a single trip; look for tours that allow a small number of people to be picked.
Conclusion
Free walking tours are a great way of sightseeing in Berlin and at the same time getting to know other tourists. Therefore the next time you plan to take a tour around Berlin, do not overlook taking a free walking tour to make the experience a amazing one. Of importance is to ensure that one selects the right kind of tour, pays attention to details together with rewarding the guide appropriately with a tip. Don’t be surprised to make great memories out of this fun city!
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